Newcastle Thunder 4 Whitehaven 26: Whitehaven made it two wins from two in pre-season as they beat Newcastle Thunder 26-4 at Kingston Park.

A far cry from last weekend’s mudbath, Haven benefited from playing on the artificial pitch despite having to contend with rain that poured throughout the game.

The tie was wrapped up in the first half as Haven stormed into a 26-0 lead and it turned into a war of attrition in the second as Thunder improved and picked up the only score of the half.

Haven’s first two tries came from wingers Elliot Miller and Jordan Burns. Glenn Riley then popped up with a try as Haven took a 14-0 lead.

Ed Chamberlain also crossed the line and Ben Davies capped a fine first half with a score under the sticks to send Haven into the sheds 26-0 ahead.

Ryan Millington scored seven minutes from full-time as both teams battled it out in rainy conditions in Newcastle.

The first chance of the game went to Thunder but it went begging as a ball out to Dan Turland in space on the wing sailed into touch.

From the restart, Haven immediately went the full length of the field to open the scoring. Richie Beaumont broke through the line and passed inside to Grant Gore who was then tackled on the Thunder 20. Thomas Coyle then kicked to the corner and Miller dived on the loose ball to score.

The Cumbrians then forced the home side to knock on and that was quickly followed by their second try.

The ball was worked through hands to Burns who came up with a fine finish in the right-hand corner, Louis Jouffret nailed the conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Substitutes Davies and Riley then linked up in front of Thunder’s line for Haven’s third try as the prop forward span out of a tackle to put the ball on the line and this immediately followed up by the try of the first half.

John-Paul Brocklebank, also on as a substitute, was brought on to the field at hooker. Haven broke the line and the ball came to Brocklebank and he kicked behind the defence for Chamberlain who won the footrace to score.

Gore then sent Davies in under the sticks from short range for Haven’s fifth try of the half and Jouffret converted for a 26-0 lead.

Thunder almost replied immediately as Chamberlain knocked on from the restart. Tom Reudiger and Joe Brown were stopped short of the line and the home side sent the ball to the left edge.

Josh Kittrick forced his way through Haven’s defence but the half-back knocked-on in the process of grounding the ball and was denied a try just before the half-time hooter sounded.

Thunder stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half but, despite forcing two goal-line drop outs, were unable to break through Haven’s defence.

Haven came close to scoring at the other end of the field as Gore kicked through. The ball was knocked on by a Thunder man and came out in front of Ted Chapelhow but the ball bobbled as the prop attempted to ground it over the line.

The home side were rewarded for their efforts seven minutes from time as they finally got over the line. Harry Aldous was stopped short after sidestepping three defenders but managed to get a quick play-the-ball away and Millington got over the line for the consolation score.

Whitehaven: Jouffret, Miller, Chamberlain, Holliday, Burns; Aiye, Gore; Beaumont, Coyle, T Chapelhow, Allen, Parker, Brooks. Subs: Newton, Davies, Fox, Riley, Lucock, J Chapelhow, Brocklebank, Dobson

Tries: Miller, Burns, Riley, Chamberlain, Davies; Goals: Jouffret 3/5

Newcastle Thunder: Reudiger, Blair, Brown, Parker, Turlan; Kittrick, Thorburn; Rennie, Cook, Clarke, Luckley, Aldous, Welsh. Subs: Simons, Teroi, Millington, Stoker, Boot, Celerino, Fewlass, Hargreaves

Try: Millington